It is the premier african human rights body, with responsibility for monitoring and promoting compliance with the african charter. African participants noted that the challenges that the au faces today are not uncommon. Other au structures are hosted by different member states. The abbreviations are the names used in this handbook. Guiding principles on large scale land based investments in africavii acknowledgements t he guiding principles on large scale land based investments lslbi are the outcome of the desire by african union member states to ensure that investments in land bene fit member states and key stakeholders. But for updated judicial framework, see protocol on the statute of the african court. The conference aimed at forming the africa day, to mark the liberation movement each year concerning the willingness of the african people to free themselves from foreign dictatorship, as well as subsequent attempts to unite africa. Its predecessor was the organization for african unity oauestablished in 1963. The african governance architecture secretariat department of political affairs, african union commission website. The africa union was officially launched in durban, south africa, on july 9, 2002. African union au, intergovernmental organization, established in 2002, to promote unity and solidarity of african states, to spur economic development, and to promote international cooperation. Pdf this paper explores some of the founding principles of the african. Pdf the role of the african union in continental peace. A pdf version of this book is available on the websites above.
An example of the importance of the au is the success story of the african peace and security architecture apsa that has. The past year has seen significant progress toward. Through the 1990s, leaders debated the need to amend the oaus structures to reflect the challenges of a changing world. It is significant, however, that most of the critical and even. The role of the african union in african peacekeeping operations 5a. It also recognises the need to promote peace, security and stability as.
It was also an objective to establish a forum for african unity in order to maintain peace and order on the african continent. Among the many issues examined are the legal status of the union, the questions of membership, succession, and relationship between the union, its organs and member states. The handbook focuses on the aus current organs and structure and is not intended to be a. The african union au replaced the organization of african unity oau. A pdf version of this book is available on the au website. Union and the african union, and their respective member countries, in figures. African union handbook, which is an invaluable resource for those who work both with and within the african union. May 25, 2017 iv promote and defend african common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its people. There is an implied power, in the absence of any express contrary. The african commission on human and peoples rights, in existence since 1986, is established under the african charter on human and peoples rights the african charter rather than the constitutive act of the african union. African union intergovernmental organization, africa. The african union au, an international organization comprising all 54 independent states in africa and western sahara, was established in may 2001 to, among other things, promote regional integration, interstate solidarity, peace, good governance and to enhance the african voice in the global system.
Analysis of the structure of the oau t was an objective of the oau to accelerate the achievement of the socioeconomic independence of african states that were still under some form of external rule. Track record and prospects key messages 1 do not panic about the state of the african union. If the inline pdf is not rendering correctly, you can download the pdf file here. Structure and organs of the african union the assembly. Focusing on the successes of the african union the african. The article undertakes a comparative legal analysis of the institutional structure of the new african union. The asf has been in development since may 2003, when the au adopted the policy framework for the establishment of the african standby force and the military staff. The institutional structure of the african union cwsl scholarly. The charter that created the oau was the result of several multinational african conferences held in the 1950s and 1960s aimed at supporting africans.
The african governance architecture aga is inspired by the constitutive act of the african union au that expresses the aus determination to promote and protect human and peoples rights, consolidate democratic institutions and culture and ensure good governance and the rule of law. Structure and organs of the african union the assembly, executive council and commission in. On 3031 january, the african union held its 26 th ordinary session of the assembly of the union in addis ababa. The full names on the left in the following list are the official names of member states as of 1 september 2019. The african union has left its mark on the continent, although most observers agree that there is still room for improvement. Femwiseafrica aims to strengthen the role of women in conflict.
May 08, 2017 au commission chairperson in kigali for consultative meeting on au institutional reforms. O to promote the unity and solidarity of african states. Since then, the new institution has struggled to reform governing bodies inherited from the oau while shouldering. Although the african union has a long history around decolonisation and liberation struggles of various african countries, it is still a young organisation.
The african union is governed by organs as per article 5 of the constitutive act of the african union. The handbook focuses on the aus current structures and organs. The african union is one of the worlds most important intergovernmental organizations. The chairperson of the african union commission auc occupies an important position in. The list also shows the date of joining the african union au or its predecessor, the organization of african unity oau. The african union au context as the organisation of african unity oau, founded in 1963, was established as a loose association of african states with limited mechanisms for implementing coordinated regional policies, managing conflicts and fostering continental peace and security, it experienced fundamental challenges to its raison detre. It also wanted to promote peaceful solutions to conflicts, ensure sovereignty forever, and raise living standards. The african union au is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of africa. Box 3243, roosvelt street w21k19 addis ababa, ethiopia tel. The oau has served its mission and was due for replacement by a structure geared towards addressing the current needs of the continent. African union member state names and abbreviations. Pdf this article traces the evolution of the african union as a successor organisation to the organisation of african unity in terms of its mandate. Loosely based on the structure of the european union, it upholds the sovereign equality and independence of its 53 member states and aims to promote peace, security and solidarity on the african continent.
The constitutive act of the african union takes cognizance of the fact that the scourge of conflicts in africa constitutes a major impediment to the socioeconomic development of the continent. The african union was formed after the dissolution of the organization of african unity oau in 2002. The african union au is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the. The chairperson of the african union commission auc occupies an important position in the regional body. Together, the objectives and principles of the oau had great influence on the nature, structure and powers of its major institutions. The historical foundations of the african union originated in the first congress of independence african states, held in accra, ghana, from 15 to 22 april 1958. Structure and organs of the african union the assembly, executive council and commission. In 1999, the oau heads of state and government issued the sirte declaration calling for the establishment of a new african union. Introduction to the norms and institutions of the african union. It is composed of 53 countries in africa and is loosely based on the european union. The african union was born in 2002 in durban, with different goals and agendas from the ones that characterized the existence of the organization of african unity which had been born in 1963.
Structure and organs of the african union the assembly, executive council and commission published on 01 jan 2012 by brill nijhoff. Against this backdrop, the african union au has taken three landmark decisions1, ultimately leading to the establishment of the femwiseafrica network of african women in conflict prevention and mediation. On behalf of the african union heads of state and government, it is my pleasure to introduce the 2019 edition of the. Seven priorities for the african union in 2018 crisis group. The new goal was that of propelling african states towards peace and prosperity as the basis for achieving the ultimate goal of political and economic. This week, the african union au marked 17 years since it was. See crisis group africa briefing n122, the african union and the burundi crisis. The bloc was founded on 26 may 2001 in addis ababa, ethiopia, and launched on 9 july 2002 in durban, south africa. Embedded within the structures of the au is the african economic. The history and development of the african union panorama.
Eight priorities for the african union in 2019 crisis group. Community aec, established by a treaty adopted in abuja, nigeria, in. African union humanitarian policy framework department of. It is the strategic framework for delivering on africa s goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the panafrican drive for unity, selfdetermination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under panafricanism and african renaissance. Understanding the african standby force, rapid deployment and. The au was announced in the sirte declaration in sirte, libya, on 9 september 1999, calling for the establishment of the african union. On 3031 may, the 8 th meeting of the african union regions steering committee of small arms and light weapons salw and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration ddr was held at au headquarters in addis ababa, ethiopia.
This handbook is published by the african union au in partnership with the new zealand government, publisher of the annual united nations handbook for more than 50 years. Authors colonel john peter matthews kobbie, international fellow south africa 5d. Nepad and its resemblance to the economic structural adjustment programs of the. The publication is a result of the fruitful cooperation over the years between the european commission ec and the african union commission auc on statistical topics. The african union by makaria green the african union au was established on july 8, 2001.
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